Scientific Director & Chief Editor
Komla M. Avono (Ph.D.)
ISSN 2710-4699 Online
3 issues per year
English Language Teachers’ Challenges in Using Educational Technology Tools in Classroom: An Appraisal Perspective from English as a Foreign Language Teaching Classes
Abstract: In this 21st century, digitalization has entered all spheres of the life. English language teachers are daunted by the challenges or barriers of using language instructional technology. Internet has become a must in English Language Teaching instruction. This study is an evaluation of challenges English language teachers face in the use of educational technology tools in English Language Teaching classes in Benin Republic. The aim of this study is to explore the challenges awaiting EFL teachers in using mobile devices in classrooms. To reach these objectives, interviews as well as questionnaires are used. The results revealed that teachers face many challenges while integrating technology into classrooms. Challenges include lack of competence, lack of limited time, teacher reluctance to new, inadequate skill, software’s problems, lack of motivation, lack of finance. To deal with these challenges the researchers suggested solutions like: moving to the cloud, old devices replacing, network upgrade.
Keywords: Barriers, Challenge, Educational Technology, ELT teachers, ELT classes
The American Democracy: Ethics, Principles and Advocacy for the Contemporary World
Abstract: The evolution of humanity and the demographic growth experienced worldwide have prompted country leaders to consider more flexible approaches to managing their internal policies. Different nations have embraced various political philosophies, with Democracy, in its different forms, being the most widely advocated. Since its inception in ancient Athens, Greece, the concept of democracy has continuously evolved. Today, the United States positions itself as a leading champion of democracy worldwide, often assuming rightly or wrongly the role of global enforcer of democratic principles. From Alexis De Tocqueville to Robert Dahl, Francois De Corcelle to Jacques Mariel Nzouankeu, many authors have apprehended the notion of democracy in general and the one of the US in particular. The general objective of the present paper is to analyze the American Democratic system and its possible transposition in Africa. To be more specific, the research focusses on presenting the different theories of democracy and exposing the principles of a role model democratic regime. The paper expects to highlight both the positive aspects of American democracy throughout the ages and the aspects that are less commendable. From a documentary research perspective, this paper has relied on literary theories such as the new criticism and the new historicism. These theories have helped to evaluate the dynamic notion of democracy through time, and in the context in which it was critically evaluated, since the study is not only based on history but it is also where all critical approaches begin.
Keywords: America, Democracy, Contemporary, Management, Principles
Delusion of Peace and Soldiers’ Plight in Selected British War Poetry
Abstract: Periods of war and their aftermath bring into focus the precariousness of peace, alongside the sacrifices and commitment of soldiers. In British war poetry, the condition of soldiers has been represented through diverse lenses, warranting critical examination. From Rudyard Kipling to Wilfred Owen and Isaac Rosenberg, poets have depicted soldiers as committed to fighting for peace, protecting civilians, and safeguarding the nation. However, these soldiers often face neglect and a lack of acknowledgment after fulfilling their duties. This study adopts a new historicist perspective to analyze soldiers’ historical engagement in war for the sake of peace and the veterans’ subsequent inability to enjoy peace when they return from war. The analysis unfolds in three sections: soldiers’ commitment to fight, their marginalization as outcasts of war, and the psychological toll of their experiences.
Keywords: Delusion, Peace, War, Soldier, Plight
A cultural Approach to Translating Ewe funerary Terms into English and French
Abstract: This study explores the translation of Ewe funeral terminology into English and French, emphasizing the intricate connection between language and culture. It highlights the need for precise translation to preserve cultural nuances, prevent misunderstandings, and foster intercultural communication. Ewe funeral terminology reflects deep-rooted beliefs, traditions, and community structures, underscoring the communal nature of funerals. Accurate translation is deemed essential for enhancing intercultural understanding. The article advocates for cultural context consideration, particularly for customs like funerary rites. Various translation techniques are discussed to address linguistic and cultural complexities. The study also made it possible to compile some terms in Ewe and translate them into English and French languages.
Keywords: Funeral Terminology, Translation, Cultural Term, Translation Process.
Games and Stakes in Samuel Beckett’s Plays (1906-1989)
Abstract: This article analyses the thematic, semantic, and aesthetic dimensions of games and their interactions in the composition of Samuel Beckett’s theatrical art. The aim of this research is to highlight the importance and functions of games in the playwright’s dramatic strategy, both in the writing of his texts and in the staging of his performances. Games form the backbone of Beckettian dramatic architecture. They are essential elements of dramatic language, enabling the playwright to present and structure his thoughts on the human condition in a post-war context of civilizational crisis.
Keywords: Games, Parodies, Identities, Angst, Play.
Motoragri and the Modernization of Agriculture in Côte d’Ivoire from 1966 to 2000
Abstract: The creation of MOTORAGRI aimed to modernize agriculture through the introduction of agricultural machinery and modern techniques, in order to improve productivity and increase the yields of agricultural operations. However, between 1966 and 2000, the implementation of these mechanization policies also encountered many obstacles. Financial, logistical and technical challenges have limited the effectiveness of these initiatives. What were the actions of MOTORAGRI in the policy of modernizing agriculture in Côte d’Ivoire? To carry out this study, we used archival sources and all of the historiography relating to MOTORAGRI. The analysis of this article highlights the modernization of agricultural practices, the construction of hydro-agricultural infrastructure and the positive impact on crop productivity and the increase in farmers’ income initiated by MOTORAGRI in Ivorian agriculture, as well as than the limits encountered.
Keywords: Agriculture, Agricultural Policy, Mechanization, Motorization, MOTORAGRI
Analysis of the Adaptation Strategies of Farmers in the Savannah Region of Northern Togo against Rainfall Disturbances
Abstract: Rainfall variability in sub-Saharan Africa has significant impacts on the mental health of farmers. These realities compel farmers in the savannahs of northern Togo to develop adjustment strategies that promote resilience and reduce mental suffering. However, in the African context, very little attention is given to the psychological adaptation of producers. This study aims to analyze farmers’ adaptation strategies to rainfall shocks, focusing on the endogenous mechanisms developed by this population. The study was conducted with 66 members of agricultural cooperatives and 24 individual farmers from the prefectures of Tône, Tandjoaré, and Oti in the savannah region, using purposive sampling. Data collection was based on semi-structured interview guides through focus groups and individual interviews in the various villages where the informants reside. The collected data were first transcribed using Transcriptor 202.8.8 and organized into texts according to the forms of adaptation strategies. These texts were then subjected to semantic and discourse analysis. In response to the agricultural crisis, one cohort of producers opts for endogenous measures that strengthen their self-esteem and self-confidence, seek social and family support, and promote group affiliations. Conversely, the second cohort adopts inappropriate behaviors characterized by behavioral coping strategies involving substance abuse and suicidal tendencies. These strategies offer a community-based model focused on support, resilience, prevention, and mental well-being to guide agricultural and development policies.
Keywords: Mental Adaptation, Farmers, Rainfall Disruption, Northern Togo
Analysis of the Failure of Credit Contracts in Microfinance Institutions in Kara, Togo
Abstract: The primary goal of microfinance institutions is to lift vulnerable populations of young people and women out of poverty that the traditional banking system excludes from its clientele. The objective of this study is to analyze the failure of credit contracts in microfinance institutions in Kara. Methodologically, it is of a mixed nature: qualitative and quantitative. Reasoned choice and snowballing were used as a sampling technique to record essential information from 167 respondents for data processing using SPSS, Excel and Word software. The theory of action logics of M. Crozier and E. Friedberg made it possible to better explain the problem of our article. The results reveal that misappropriation of the purpose of credit, financial cavalry and lending of obtained credit are the main factors in the insolvency of debtor clients, hence the failure of credit contracts in city microfinance from Kara.
Keywords: Microfinance, Credit Contract, Failure, Client, Kara
Characterization of Hydroclimatic Risks in the Lower Ouémé Valley in Benin
Abstract: The lower Ouémé valley is subject to the effects of hydroclimatic hazards which negatively affect the activities of the populations. This research aims to characterize hydroclimatic risks in the lower Ouémé valley. The methodological approach consisted of determining the hazards linked to hydro-climatic variability through climatological (rainfall, ETP) and hydrometric (flow) data from 1960 to 2011, the study of standardized precipitation indices and the analysis of the break in stationarity of rainfall and hydrometric series supported by field observations and socio-anthropological investigations. She also tackled the frequency analysis of extreme climatic events with the adjustment of the laws of Gumbel and GEV. The study of the seasonal variability of the hydrological regime, the maximum rainfall levels over the period 1960-2011 and the socio-anthropic data collected, shows that the lower Ouémé valley is under the threat of hydroclimatic disasters. The Gumbel and GEV diagrams produced show that the most frequent flood return periods are three (03) years and the rare ones are fifty (50) years. The frequency of droughts varies to varying degrees. It is from 1.92% for extreme droughts to 9.61% for severe droughts and 42.31% for moderate droughts. Farmers’ perceptions of hydroclimatic phenomena relate to the changes that have occurred in certain animal and plant species, the disruption of the hydrological regimes of waterways, the reduction in the number of rainy days and the drying up of watercourses.
Keywords: Lower Ouémé Valley, Hydroclimatic Risks, Perceptions, Endogenous Knowledge, Adaptation Strategies.
The figure of the Torturer in These Sweet Fruits of the Breadfruit Tree by Tchicaya U Tam’si
Abstract: These so sweet fruits of the breadfruit tree by Tchicaya U Tam’si can be placed in the category of novels of post-independence disenchantment in black Africa. It pits idealists against lawless men seeking or possessing political power. Above all, it depicts men of Evil, and among them the torturer. The entry into the Negro-African literary field of this character indicates the concern for his representation, no longer just evocatively, but in “flesh and bones” so to speak. This, by drawing his physical and moral portrait.
Keywords: Politics, Torturer, Hatred, Assassination, Rebellion
The Vodùn ritual sɔ́ gbɔ̌ in Benin: Place of Theatricality and Oral Literary Performance
Abstract: In Benin, periodic rituals are organized to honor the Vodun. An observation of these rituals reveals that, beyond their social and spiritual dimensions, there is also an artistic dimension involving theatricality and oral literary performance. Vodùn sɔ́ gbɔ̌, a ritual performed as a prelude to the Vodun Sakpata dance, clearly illustrates the presence of theatrical and oral literary performance. How do theatricality and literary speech manifest during the enactment of the Vodùn sɔ́ gbɔ̌ ritual? It can be assumed that the theatrical and oral arts reveal themselves through signs and forms that emerge throughout the unfolding of the ritual. This study aims to describe how the ritual is marked by the dual presence of theatricality and oral literary speech. To achieve this, two theoretical approaches are employed: theatrical semiotics and hermeneutics. The analysis is structured around two focal points. The first provides context along with a concise presentation of the ritual. The second identifies and describes the theatrical signs and literary speech acts that form and characterize the artistic performances within the ritual.
Keywords: Theatricality, Performance, Oral Texts, Ritual, Vodun
The Humanist Confession of Exogenous Religions in Le continent du Tout et du presque Rien by Sami Tchak
Abstract: Through the interstices of works of the mind, the project of living together is recurrent in view of the convulsions which shake the planet due to cultural or confessional antagonisms. Humanist by nature, the artist aims to achieve a harmonious life between practitioners of various religions condemned to share the same living environment. Sami Tchak, through The Continent of Everything and Almost Nothing, sets out in search of the holy grail of religious tolerance that humanity so desperately desires. By what tricks was he able to romanticize the interreligious dialogue which underlies living together between the protagonists of different faiths? How is the humanist philosophy that emerges from this fiction expressed? This analysis involves studying the project of a harmonious society despite the identity differences characteristic of human societies. To achieve this end, we used the sociocritical approach which allowed us to interpret the social realities mentioned in the text.
Keywords: Works of the Spirit, Religions, Humanism, Living Together